War Crimes of the 8th Dalmatian Corps

World War 2 in Yugoslavia was a case of constant war crimes of everyone against everyone else. Germans, Italians, Ustashi, Chetniks, Partisans were all busy murdering civilians, and even Allies got on into the act on occasion.

Reason for this were multiple, but can be roughly divided into several categories: ideological, political, military and emotional. Ideologically, murder was carried out to get rid of the undesireables. For Nazis, Ustashi and Chetniks, undesireables were ethnic and political groups that were seen as hostile. For Partisans, undesireables were primarily ideological and class groups seen as hostile, but that definition could expand to encompass ethnic qualification as well. Politically, murders could be used as a fundamentally election campaign. Ustashi, Partisans and Chetniks killed people who were opposed to them politically. Partisans and possibly German special forces would also sometimes carry out war crimes as a part of propaganda and recruitment campaign, donning other side’s uniforms in order to later recruit victims to their own side.

This article will limit itself to war crimes of the 8^th Dalmatian Partisan Corps.

Context

Final operations of Yugoslav forces in the western Herzegovina began in October 1944. Following the capture of Dubrovnik, the command Staff of the 29^th Division decided that subordinate brigades should as soon as possible reach the Neretva Valley, capture Stolac, Metković and Čapljina, and thus create conditions for the capture of Nevesinje, western Herzegovina and Mostar. On 26^th October 1944., 14^th Brigade captured Stolac, while 13^th Brigade captured Donje Hrasno, Dračevo, Višiće and Prebilovci. 12^th Brigade captured Metković and Gabela, as well as Čapljina the next day. On 29^th October the 14^th Brigade cut off the Ljubuški – Mostar road, while Western Herzegovina Detachment captured Ljubuški.

Communists soon formed the Provincial Board of the People’s Liberation Movement (PO NOP) for Western Herzegovina. The Board created a list of all suspect and/or dangerous individuals that were to be eliminated. This list contained 160 Catholic laymen from Čapljina and Ljubuško, a number of priests and 44 Franciscan monks. Soon, 60 laymen were killed in Čapljina and 58 in Ljubuško, while some had managed to escape. Execution of priests was delayed until after the capture of Mostar, as it would have caused unfavorable public opinion.

In 1944., a conference was held by Partisans on which decision was made to kill all monks from Franciscan monastery in Široki Brijeg, and the village itself was to be destroyed. Partisan OZN (Odjeljenje za Zaštitu Naroda – Detachment for Protection of People) had singled out the Catholic Church as an irredeemable enemy that was to be destroyed with prejudice. At the same time, Partisan IX Division was active in Herzegovina, where it “requisitioned” supplies from peasants by force. XXIX Division replaced it, and immediately complaints of partisans raping people began.

Following the end of “liberation” of Dalmatia in December 1944., VIII Dalmatian Corps did not participate in larger operations. Its 9^th Dalmatian Division was sent to relieve the forces holding the frontline south of Mostar. 4^th Brigade was also sent to Neretva – Jara line., with majority of forces concentrated on defending the Mostar – Čitluk road. Political comissars were busy promoting “brotherhood and friendship” of Serbs and Croats. But the attention was still primarily on the battlefield.

During the night of 2^nd to 3^rd January 1945. the units of the 2^nd Dalmatian Brigade crossed Neretva near the destroyed bridge in Čapljina and continued towards Ljubuško where they spent several days resting. On the 5^th January the entire brigade was in the Cerov Dolac – Gruda area. Report of the 9^th Division HQ from 12 January 1945 notes that the “enemy forces with significant Ustashi elements, local Ustashi police, as well as the Black Legion, recruited in this area, with support of the clergy and the local community, are attempting to maintain themselves there, and fill their numbers with forced mobilization while robbing and carrying out crimes against the population”.

By order of the Headquarters of the 9^th Division from 5^th January 1945., the 2^nd Dalmatian Brigade was ordered to relieve the elements of 3^rd Brigade and cleanse the area of hostile elements. Task of the 3^rd and 4^th Brigade was to prevent Croatian Armed Forces from acting towards Čapljina and Ljubuško. 2^nd Brigade suffered heavy casualties and on 23^rd January had to withdraw towards Imotski and Posušje, where it remained until 4^th February.

Meanwhile several war crimes had been recorded in Herzegovina. Six men were shot near graveyard in Mamići by the 2^nd Dalmatian Brigade commanded by Bruno Vuletić. Exact count of the dead was difficult as Partisans had burnt the parish registers as well as the Franciscan library. Overall, 388 victims or 12,94% of the population of the area had been recorded, of which 139 soldiers and 45 civilians died during the war and 444 soldiers and 130 civilians after the war’s end.

Preparation of the Mostar Operation

Area of Široki Brijeg, Mostar and Nevesinje was under command of the German Army Group E, with organization of defense being assigned to the Headquarters of the 21^st Mountain Corps, located in Sarajevo. In this area were located units of the 369^th Legionary Division, 9^th Croatian Mountain Division, Italian “San Marco” legion, the Black Legion (1^st Ustashi Standing Corps), and other Ustashi and Chetnik units with 30 battalions in total, as well as one company of 181^st Jaeger Division, for a total of 20 000 men. Overal command was held by the commander of the 369^th Legionary Division, German General-Major Georg Reinecke.

Combat began on 27^th January with German and Croatian attack against the 4^th Split Brigade, and took Ljubuški in the Operation Bora. German forces advanced on 28^th January, but the 12^th Herzegovina Brigade and the Corps of the People’s Defense managed to push them back to Čapljina – Ljubuški line. 4^th Split Brigade of the 9^th Division retreated in direction of Vrgorac, probably taking with it fra Maksimilijan Jurčić, who was murdered near Vrgorac.

When Croatian Armed Forces forces took Ljubuško, many people prepared them a warm welcome, as described in report of the Biokovo-Neretva Committee of the Communist Party of Croatia. Part of the reason, as described in the report, was the fact that many families had members that had been shot by Partisans. People secretly cooperated with NDH forces and also Imotski, Široki Brijeg and Mostar cooperated with each other.

On 30 January 1945., Headquarters of the VIII Corps had suggested – and the Supreme Headquarters of NOVJ accepted and ordered – transfer of majority of forces towards Mostar. Taking Mostar would serve to push German and Croatian forces back towards Sarajevo and Ivan-sedlo, which would secure the battlefield of the planned future offensive. This would also protect the rear of the VIII Corps when it went from Lika towards Soča.

VII Corps Headquarters was also given command of the 29^th Herzegovina Division of the 2^nd Montenegrin Corps and the 3^rd Bosnian-Herzegovinan Brigade of KNOJ. Capture of Mostar was a task of 9^th, 19^th and 26^th Divisions, while the 20^th Division had been left in Lika to protect the rear area. With 1^st Tank and the Artillery Brigade, force had a total of 40 000 soldiers.

According to the operational plan of the Headquarters of the of the VIII Corps, the Mostar operation would be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, majority of the forces of the VIII Corps (9^th and 26^th Division, Artillery Brigade and the 1^st Tank Brigade) were to destroy Croatian and German forces in the area of Široki Brijeg and encircle Mostar from the West and North. In the second phase, Mostar was to be taken while 29^th Herzegovina Brigade was to take Nevesinje and penetrate into the area of Široko polje north of Mostar, and towards Konjice and Jablanica. Air support was provided from Vis by the 1^st and 2^nd Squadron of NOVJ and Allied RAF Group in Southern Italy.

First Phase of Mostar Operation and Capture of Široki Brijeg

First phase of the Mostar Operation involved fighting for Široki Brijeg, Ljubuški and Čitluk, where there were some 6 000 Croatian and German soldiers of the 369^th Legionary Division, 1^st and 2^nd Home Guard battalion, 2^nd Ustashi battalion and other units.

26^th Division was tasked with attacking along the line of Kočerin – Široki Brijeg – Knešpolje, and with one brigade securing the path to Rakitno. 9^th Division was to surround Široki Brijeg and reach Knešpolje with one brigade while leaving second to secure the left flank of the 26^th Division. Artillery and Tank Brigades supported the attack of the 26^th Division, attack of the 19^th Division with 12^th Brigade of the 29^th Division from the southern side along the line of Čitluk – Varda – Mostar, and attack of the 29^th Division onto Nevesinje and Blagaj from East and entering Mostar. One of the aims was to have 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 11^th and 12^th Dalmatian Brigade penetrate into the area of Knešpolje, cutting off the retreat towards Mostar and destroying Croatian and German units in Široki Brijeg.

On 6^th February 1945. at 7 o’clock, 1^st, 11^th and 12^th Dalmatian Brigade supported by the 1^st Tank Brigade went on to attack. Some success had been achieved along the line of Kočen – Široki Brijeg, where attack was being carried out by the 1^st Dalmatian and the 1^st Tank Brigades, but the defences were not penetrated. Maneuver of 12^th Brigade of the 26^th Division and 2^nd and 3^rd Brigades of the 9^th Division allowed them to penetrate into area of Knešpolje and cut off defenders from Mostar. In response, Germans sent a battalion from Mostar, which penetrated the lines of the 2^nd Dalmatian Brigade and succeeded in linking up with units in Široki Brijeg. This forced the VIII Corps to retreat from Knešpolje.

The attack continued on the 7^th February. While the plan of the attack had remained the same, new units had been introduced into combat. Second attack by the 26^th Division with 1^st, 11^th and 12^th Brigade and supported by tanks produced better results. German and Croatian forces were forced into a limited space and while they managed to escape the encirclement, suffered heavy losses, setting up a new defense line at Mikuljača and Jastrebinka.

At the same time, the 19^th Division, reinforced by 12^th Brigade of the 29^th Division, was operating to the south of Mostar, between Mostarsko blato and Neretva. On the left side of Neretva, 11^th Brigade of 29^th Division was pressuring Konjic, while 14^th Brigade had reached the mountain foot of Veleže. Meanwhile, 10^th and 13^th Brigade of the 29^th Division, one tank battalion and an artillery battalion were assembled for the attack on Nevesinje, Buna and Blagaj. Having taken Široki Brijeg, units of the 9^th, 19^th and 26^th Division reached Mostar. Between 8^th and 12^th February lasted preparations for the attack on Mostar.

Operations of the 11^th Dalmatian Brigate and Capture of Široki Brijeg Monastery

On 30^th January 1945., the 11^th Brigade received orders to transfer its forces to the Split – Gradac – Vrgorac direction, which was achieved through 31^st January and 1^st February. In that time units of the 4^th Brigade had established frontline on the river of Trebiža and secured the direction of Ljubuški – Crveni Grm – Vrgorac. First and Fourth Battalion of the 11^th Brigade were sent towards Vidin on 31^th January, where they linked up with the Battalion of National Defense. By 3nd February, 2^nd and 3^rd Battalion of the 11^th Brigade had arrived to the area around Vitina. Around Počelj on the left shore of Neretva were assembling the elements of the 29^th Herzegovina Division, units of KNOJ and part of the 1^st Tank Brigade with a total of 3 000 soldiers. Croatian Armed Forces abandoned Čapljina on 3^rd February and retreated along the direction of Čitluk – Mostar, with Čapljina being taken on the same day by the 12^th Herzegovina Brigade and the Brigade of KNOJ. Two priests and a nun were killed by the Partisans in Gabela and Čapljina.

Units of the 4^th Brigade crossed into Trebižat on 4^th February, and entered Ljubuški at 12 o’clock, which had been abandoned by the Croatian forces. Croatian troops were also accompanied by the priests, including many whose names were present on the Partisan pre-prepared execution lists. This was a good idea, as following the capture of Čapljina and Ljubuški, Partisans seem to have considered it of utmost importance to murder the Franciscans. According to OZNA, by 8^th February some 60% of population of the areas of Čapljina and Ljubuški had escaped towards Mostar.

On 4^th February the 1^st Brigade arrived to Kočerin. Third overseas brigade secured the direction of Rakitno – Vukojevo – Izbično. On the same day, 11^th Brigade was ordered to move to Buhovo and organize attack from southern side onto Široki Brijeg. 1^st Brigade attacked Kočerin directly, supported by a tank company of the 1^st Tank Brigade. 12^th Brigade attacked from the left, 11^th Brigade attacked from the direction of Buhovo. Third Overseas Brigade was ordered to take Ljubotići and protect against counterattacks from rakitno. 2^nd and 3^rd Brigade of the 9^th Division protected the flanks. Two battalions of the 13^th Dalmatian Brigade were assigned to the 9^th Division, on the right flank of the 11^th Brigade.

11^th Brigade was ordered by the division HQ to eliminate enemy positions in the monastery complex and the gymnasium. Artillery was ordered to bombard the monastery in Široki Brijeg, while other targets were to be shelled at request. Monastery was to be attacked by the 2^nd Battalion of the 11^th Brigade. Monastery itself was turned into a fortified strongpoint, defended by the members of the 370^th Regiment and an Ustashi battalion, some 250 soldiers in all. Artillery positions were also near the monastery.

Consequently, monastery and the gymnasium were damaged in the artillery bombardment carried out from 1^st to 5^th February 1945. Church itself was hit some 296 times.

In the night of 5^th to 6^th February, 2^nd and 4^th Battalion of the 11^th Brigade went on to attack Široki Brijeg. By morning the 4^th Battalion had reached the minefield in front of the monastery while 2^nd Battalion had taken the village of Mokro. Attempts to take the monastery failed due to minefield and wire defences, and 2^nd Battalion also stalled at village of Pribinović. 3^rd Brigade managed to take village of Uzarići, but the 1^st Brigade failed to enter Široki Brijeg. 12^th Brigade took Čavar and Dubrava, but had to return to Lončar – Mosor, and thus assault on Široki Brijeg had to be postponed. 2^nd Brigade reached the area of Knešpolje, while Third Brigade spent night at Ljuštica – Turčinovići line. Meanwhile, 19^th Division was reinforced with 12^th Herzegovina Brigade, and cleansed the area of Croatian forces and the Muslim militias, reaching the Kruševo – Ljuti Dolac – Biograci line.

In the period from 6^th to 8^th February 1945., some 30 civilians were killed by partisans in the wider area of Uzarić. Before the assault on Široki Brijeg, 3^rd Brigade took up positions in village of Turčinovići while the 13^th Brigade did the same in village of Jare. On 7^th February, 3^rd Brigade relocated from Uzarići to Knešpolje where it continued its crimes against the civilian population. Three people were killed in a small village of Solde, while 10 civilians and some 30 German prisoners – all from Čitluk – were killed in Barbarića Ograda. Another 10 civilians were killed in Široki Brijeg and 7 in Družice.

During the day of 6^th of February, Partisan artillery and tanks bombarded the monastery and gymnasium, while 14 civilians were killed in Grabova Draga. During these events present was 4^th Battalion of the 2^nd Brigade of the 9^th Division, joined during combat by the 2^nd Battalion of the same brigade. Control of Grabova Draga was then given to the 4^th and 5^th Battalions of the 2^nd Brigade. These finally took the positions on the line of Goranci – Odolj, and came into conflict with a column of 600 members of the Croatian Armed Forces. 1^st Battalion remained in reserve near village of Gradac. 2^nd Brigade had to pull its forces back towards Metkovići – Radeljkovina – Grabova Draga. Croatian Armed Forces however circled around the 2^nd Battalion, penetrating Partisan positions in direction of Grabova Draga – Gornji Gradac – Donji Gradac, forcing a withdrawal.

During the night of 6^th / 7^th February, preparations were carried out for the attack on Široki Brijeg. One brigade of 19^th Division was to secure a bridgehead on Lištica, while another was to cut off Croatian and German forces a retreat towards Mostar.

Attack was continued in the early morning of 7^th February, with general assault commencing in the 5 in the morning. British air force bombarded the monastery complex in support of the partisan attack, destroying the southern belfry turret. Meanwhile partisans entered the monastery itself, where allegedly armed monks offered resistance. Ivan Špika alleged that monks were killing partisans with machine guns, despite the fact that Špika himself was in Split at time of the attack. Eleven monastery inhabitants had been killed. Partisans spread the word that they had been killed fighting against the partisans. This was an obvious lie since they were killed on 8^th of February, some ten hours after the end of fighting, and some of the victims were not even present in the monastery during the combat. Partisan reports after combat also indicate that the policy of systematic murder of Franciscan monks had begun as early as 1942.

In order to justify murders, OZN stated that Franciscans had helped organize attempt by the Croatian Armed Forces to penetrate partisan lines from Mostar towards Široki Brijeg. Franciscans also allegedly organized a widespread popular uprising which had attacked partisan units in the area of Široki Brijeg – Ljubiški – Čapljina – Mostar. UNS (Ustashi Supervision Service) and GESTAPO were also allegedly supported by the Catholic Church, which was singled out as the most dangerous enemy. 1^st Croatian Division of KNOJ noted that in operations around Ljubuško during January 1945., partisan units were receiving fire from the houses, but threw the enemy back with a counterattack. Enemy was thrown back, and Široki Brijeg and Mostar taken, and villages that had resisted were punished.

Fra Marko Dragičević, who witnessed capture of the Franciscan monastery, negated Partisan claims of having received fire from the monastery. He explained that it was physically impossible for anyone from the gymnasium to have shot at the partisans, since the church blocked line of sight from it. Fra Borislav Pandžić had opened the doors of the monastery to prevent the partisans from breaking them. Partisans entered the monastery, and forced the monks to step onto the painting of Ante Pavelić under threat of death. Monks were declared guilty and shot on spot, which was explained by them having shot at the partisans – despite the fact that one of the monks killed had been blind at the time, and several were incapable of leaving their beds due to illness. In all, twelve monks were killed under false accusations.

Pavao Prcela, member of the 1^st Battalion of the 1^st Brigade, noted that his unit was tasked with taking village of Cigansko Brdo in a valley near Lištica. They took the place after three days of heavy fighting. After having taken the village, order came from above to kill everybody in it – men, women, children, old folks. The order was carried out, and the partisans also slaughtered cattle. Similar actions were repeated few days later in Mostar. In fact, the entire division under general Dapčević had been ordered to murder people with no regard and at random. Rafael Radović, member of the 11^th Brigade, also had similar testimony. He was told by a member of 11^th Brigade how they had killed a group of some twenty Franciscans by throwing gas bombs into the basement; previously he also witnessed a murder of a Franciscan by an assigned agent of UDBA. He also noted that already several months before the fall of Široki Brijeg the partisan propaganda had been talking about how the Franciscan monks were shooting at partisans while nuns were throwing boiling water at them, and thus they all had to be killed. But Prcela noted that neither he nor any of the partisans he had met personally, ever had any unpleasant experiences with the monks – to the contrary, they were always helpful. Partisans in Herzegovina also murdered every single captured German, Italian or Ustashi soldier, as well as many captured members of the Croatian Home Guard. Many civilians were also killed. In one instance six young men – all under twenty years of age – from Ljubuško were murdered near Široki Brijeg.

Ivan Gugić, also a member of the 11^th Brigade and a witness of crimes in Kočevski Rog, told how upon joining the brigade in April 1945., other soldiers told him that Usorac Mate, commander of the Reconaissance Platoon of the HQ of XI Dalmatian Brigade, was bragging how he and his platoon commanders had raped and beat the nuns after combat for the Široki Brijeg.

Ivan Prcela noted that the crime in Široki Brijeg is the best known pre-Bleiburg Partisan crime (other crimes did happen after Bleiburg). Partisans captured the monks, and soon before evening shot them, soaked bodies in diesel and then burned them. Alongside a dozen monks captured in the monastery itself (others were caught trying to escape), partisans found also some 20 to 30 wounded German soldiers. All were killed. Several priests and professors of the gymnasium were taken towards split and on 8^th February killed near Zagvozd. Eight francescans who were killed there were previously tortured for a day in a burned-up house in Sudišće. This was done by the 4^th Battalion of the 5^th Brigade of the 1^st Croatian Division od KNOJ. Battalion HQ with one company was providing security for OZN and its prison. Other elements with in Vrgorac, Ljubuški, Lovreć, Studenci, Aržan and Zagvozd.

At around 10 o’clock, 11^th Brigade had taken the monastery complex while 12^th and 1^st Brigades continued their movement towards Knešpolje and took Cigansko brdo (Roma Hill) and the village of Lončar. By the end of the day the 26^th Division had reached the line of Lukovača – D. Polog – Jastrebinka – Gorance, while 9^th Division remained in the area of Široki Brijeg – Knešpolje – Gornji Gradac. 19^th Division took positions at Uzarić, and Široki Brijeg. Knešpolje was taken during the night of 7^th on 8^th February, but already on 6^th February the 12^th Brigade had captured some 100 Axis troops in Knešpolje and sent them to the rear units.

Following the capture of Široki Brijeg, units of the 11^th Brigade took positions in the wider area of the city, while the 1^st Battalion continued to pursue German and Croatian forces in the direction of village of Dobrić. They reached the village on 8^th of February, and from 10^th the brigade is preparing for the Axis counterattack, fortifying the line of Goranci – Odolj – Jastrebinka – Vasina Kosa – Gradina – k.605 – Vlasnići – Lukavača. Its right flank is held by the 19^th Dalmatian Division while the left flank is held by the 9^th Dalmatian Division which is advancing towards Neretva north of Mostar. 26^th Division positioned its 11^th Dalmatian Brigade at the line of Mostar – Vlasnići – k. 605 – Gradina – Vlasina kosa, 12^th Dalmatian Brigade at the line of Vasina kosa – Jastrebinka, 3^rd Overseas Brigade at line of Goranci – Jastrebinka, 1^st Dalmatian Brigade is in reserve at Široki Brijeg, and artillery in the area of Žvatić.

Following the cleansing of Široki Brijeg, units of the 26^th Division moved eastwards towards Mostar, 11^th Brigade took Polog, 3^rd Brigade of the 9^th Division Knešpolje, while the 2^nd Brigade moved towards the villages of Goranci and Grabova Draga to cleanse the area of the Croatian forces. 2^nd Brigade was positioned to the left of the 12^th Brigade, at the line of Gornji Gradac – Cigansko Brdo – Knešpolje. On 9^th February 1945., 12^th Brigade was transferred to the area of Gostuše – Gornji Gradac, but Brigade’s whereabouts are unknown for the 8^th February when six Franciscans from Mostarski Gradac had been killed near Vrljića ograda. However, nephew of the murdered fra Zvonko Grubišić, Ljubo Grubišić, testified that commander of the brigade that had executedthe Franciscans had been Gaće from Zagvozd, which would mean that it was indeed the 12^th Brigade that had carried out the murders. Alongside the Franciscans, two Croatian soldiers and two civilians had also been killed. Youngest victim, Drago Vrljić, was 16 at the time.

In nearby village of Trn, a number of civilians were killed by partisans in the period between 7^th and 9^th February. Unit most likely active in the area was the 1^st Dalmatian Brigade, though Tank Brigade of the VIII Corps may have been present instead.

Second Phase of the Mostar Operation and Capture of Mostar

Following the fall of Široki Brijeg, attacks were continued towards Jastrebinka, Hum and Mostar. Attack however had to be ceased due to a snowstorm, and continued on 13^th February. 26^th Division advanced from the west at route Široki Brijeg – Mostar, while 19^th Division was at its right flank, moving along the route of Varda – Milinković – Mostar. Ninth Division was tasked with reaching the road and railway route Mostar – Jablanica to cut off Croatian and German troops in Mostar. 29^th Herzegovina Division was attacking from southeastern side. First Tank Brigade was acting along the route of the right column, on the road Knešpolje – Mostar. 12^th Herzegovina Brigade had earlier been subordinated to the 19^th Division, and attention was also given to destroy Croatian-German defense in the narrows between Mostarsko blato and Neretva so as to open Mostar to attack from the south.

War crimes happened in concord with the operations. Between 10^th and 13^th February 1945., partisans killed some 70-odd Croatian civilians as well as five priests in the area of Ljubuški. Seven other priests were also killed in the wider area. This happened in the area of the 3^rd Overseas Brigade of the 26^th Division which was, during the attack on Široki Brijeg, securing the direction of Rakitno – Vukojevno – Izbično.

Attack on Mostar by the VIII Corps began in the morning of 13^th February with a strong air attack. By noon, 12^th Brigade had penetrated German-Croatian defences at Jastrebinka and nearly reached western side of Mostar. To its left, the 3^rd Overseas Brigade had reached Mostar mine, but was thrown back. 11^th Brigade too was initially unsuccessful in attack on Mikuljača and Keveljača, which were only taken following introduction of additional forces from 1^st and 12^th Brigades, as well as tanks, artillery and aviation. 19^th Division took fortified strongpoint at Varda and linked up with 26^th Division for a general assault on Mostar. During the night, 13^th Herzegovina Brigade took Blagaj and continued onto Mostar. In the evening of the 13^th February, units of the VIII Corps were at the western and southern sides of the city while 9^th Division was covering them in direction of Drežnica and protecting the left flank of the units attacking Mostar.

In the morning of 14^th February, last attack on Mostar began. Following the intense artillery bombardment, majority of the 26^th Division (1^st, 11^th and 12^th Brigade and 1^st Tank Brigade) moved in against the city. Western part of the city was taken by the early afternoon, and around 17 hours the 12^th Brigade and 1^st Tank Brigade entered eastern part of the city. Immediately after entering the city Yugoslav authorities put together a list of “suspicious” individuals which were to be eliminated, and the “cleansing” begun but a few hours later. Some 32 Croatians were killed in the Rodoč on Mostar periphery. 12 women and children were murdered by Partisans in Buna by tying stones to their necks before throwing them into the river. At around 17:30, seven Franciscan monks were taken from the Mostar monastery, taken to Čekrk and murdered there.

Partisan political election campaign did not stop there. Some 80 civilians were killed in Posušje region, while 70 more were “disappeared”. In the Drinovac county, some dozen civilians were killed. In Ljubuško and its surroundings, 35 civilians were openly killed, while around 70 more were taken away and never seen or heard from again. Another 25 men were killed in Čapljina, while a group of 120 more were taken away and never seen again. In this group was also present the local pastor, who was later confirmed killed. Some 50 peasants were killed in Brotanj, while no certain numbers are known for people murdered in Široki Brijeg and Mostar. Many more people ran away. The result was an outright genocide and complete ethnic cleansing of Eastern Herzegovina, which had lost its Croatian ethnic corpus.

Disposition of Military Units Following the End of Mostar Operation

German Army and Croatian Armed Forces retreated towards Jablanica as the 2^nd Dalmatian Brigade to the West and 29^th Herzegovina Division to the east failed to cut off their retreat. German units that had managed to retreat towards Sarajevo were accepted by the 7^th Waffen SS division. For the first three days they were being pursued by the 9^th Division and the 1^st Brigade of the 26^th Division, and then by the 29^th Division. Mostar operation ended with capture of Drežnica on 16^th February, while capture of Ivan-sedlo by the 29^th Division on 4^th March ended the operations for conquest of Herzegovina.

Units of the VIII Corps remained in Mostar where soon arrived the representatives of the People’s Liberation Committee of Dalmatia headed by Vicko Krstulović as well as that of Bosnia and Herzegovina headed by Avdo Hum and others. HQ of VIII Corps also arrived from Imotski. Parade of Partisan units was held on 20^th February. Following the several days of rest, VIII Corps was sent back to northern and central Dalmatia where preparations were underway for an offensive towards Lika, Gorski Kotar, Croatian shore, Istra and Trst. Only 29^th Herzegovina division remained in Herzegovina alongside the Bosnian-Herzegovina Division of KNOJ. These units took over the duties of “cleansing” the conquered area from the “remnants of Ustasho-Chetnik bands” – which is to say, killing anyone who was politically inconvenient for the new Communist regime.

Mostar operation was specific because Josip Broz Tito and the Supreme Headquarters of NOV POJ (People’s Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia) were in direct command of the VIII Corps and the 29^th Division, which was not the case in Knin operation, where the central command only gave general directions while operations planning was carried out by the command staff of the VIII Corps.

Source

http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/55185/1/WRAP_Matkovic_zlocini_postrojba_8_dalmatinskkog_korpusa.pdf